Dickinson stove install in 21 NE factory cabinets

[Yellowpoint]

Hi Everyone, I have been a lurker here for a while , as I waited for my trailer order to get built. Anyways I wanted a Dickinson stove and came up with a relatively easy way to fit it in the factory cabinets. I apologize in advance if my descriptions or photos don’t make sense it’s my first time posting things in this type of format. So here is the story as it applies to a 21ne that I picked up in early February.

Step one order the trailer with the cabinets built to fit the microwave/ convection oven. Delete the stove top so they don’t cut a hole in your countertop And ensure a gas line will be present .I did this not wanting the convection oven installed but an error was made and it got put in . If anyone wants it I am on Vancouver Island and send me a msg we can work something out but I am not keen on shipping it anywhere.

Step 2 Remove the convection oven and remove the trim and thin plywood on the bottom of the cabinet, also a good idea to remove the cabinet door under the stove are to prevent damaging it.

Step 3 take very good measurements of the stove and determine the height that you would like it to be above the counter or flush. I chose just a little bit above flush. Lay out your cuts double and triple check that your lines are square , straight and in the right place. Make your cuts . I used a jig saw with a reverse blade for the counter and a combination of jig saw and oscillator for the cabinet front and structure. Use sharp blades steady hands and be patient.



Step 4 test fit the stove, make adjustments if needed and decide on how to double up the structure you just cut out. I had some 3/4 ply on hand and used that and a few of the original pieces of wood from the cabinet.



Step 5 depending on what you choose for a cabinet floor material the elevation of your doublers will vary , I had some scraps of 3/8 ply on hand so I lowered my doublers by 3/8 for a flush floor. I glued and nailed the doublers in, glued and nailed the forward section of floor in. I decided to just screw down the rear portion to maintain access for future maintenance or modification



Step 6 due to the hole for the convection oven being wider than the stove the trim kit from Dickinson is nessesary. I only chose to install the side trim pieces, and also installed the hold down bracket at this point.


Step 7 place the stove in position, connect the gas line, leak check, slide into position ensuring engagement of hold down bracket. Secure the stove in position with the screws at the front , reinstall oven door which I removed earlier to make things a little lighter . Remove all the plastic protectant wrap, install the batteries, a tidy bead of caulking around the top and light it up, worked out well. Unfortunately I have some screw holes visible in the cabinet front from where the convection oven was unfortunately installed but it should be to difficult to blend them in.

I am trying to attach the photos and get them in the right position so please bear with me.
I consider my woodworking skills only in the moderate to low level. However have background as an aircraft mechanic and electrician.
I hope this helps anyone considering the installation it really wasn’t that difficult and thanks go out to Jim Bennett for words of encouragement nearly a year ago.
Next projects are, relocate the batteries to under the front bench seat, pack the wheel bearings, some seaplane drains at all the drain holes, possibly a portable solar installation

[Centex]

Welcome to the forum, congrats on your new 21NE, the Dickinson installation looks great!

[brroberts]

Good plan. Looks good.

[cpaharley2008]

Welcome to the forum Scott and thanks for posting pictures correctly, the first time yet. Oops, I see Donna helped.....Thanks Donna.....

[sofmerc]

looks great!.. Curious , what are seaplane drains?

[Ron in BC]

Welcome and good job on the install, looks great.

Yes, what are seaplane drains?

Ron

[Bayner]

Nicely done.

[Yellowpoint]

Seaplane drains are small little vents that were used on fabric covered float planes to let water drain out at the rear of flight surfaces that were splashed with water, they allow drainage but shield the hole from picking up more water when moving forward. They come in a few different sizes and plastic or sometimes aluminum. I noticed on my short drive home from the factory in light rain that the drain holes in the front storage box had allowed some water and filth to enter the box from the bottom. I can only imagine similar activity occurring at the drains in the trailer body as well. Seemed like an easy fix as they just glue on . Will let you know when I have them on and post some pics.

[wdr2]

Will the Dickinson Caribbean stove fit in standard Escape 21 cabinetry ? We have a Dickinson stove top installed now. Did Escape provide kitchen cabinets with non-standard dimensions?:

"Step one order the trailer with the cabinets built to fit the microwave/ convection oven."

[Yellowpoint]

Hi , Escape could not make any alterations to the Cabinets for me and i understand why. However i found that the cabinet door sizes and positions changed a little when you ordered the microwave/ convection oven. If i remember correctly the standard offering has two side hinged doors under the oven , where as the micro/ convection oven has one wider but shallower door hinged at the bottom. This shallower door made it possible for me to cut out for the dickinson oven and not affect the cabinet doors at all. This was my experiance on a recently built 21NE , i really cant say regarding other models as i believe that cabinet layout and dimensions may be different.